Professional, amateur and interesting photos.

[Ko.Fe.]

I wear camera every time I am outside. And I am getting asked if I am photographer. I was published, interviewed, recognized by my name and won contest. But I am not paid for my photos. Can I answer “yes”?

I have seen photos of local studios photogs. It is kind of advanced Walmart photography. Totally not interesting, but well taken, printed.

IMHO, those who takes interesting photography and could make living from it are photographers. Those who post them on mass media and getting paid by commercials or somehow.

Those who takes corporate and weddings and paid for it are just trades.
Those who spend time to take non assigned photos and they are interesting to the level of book for sale are photographers.

And amateurs are those who takes so-so photos, which are interesting only for them, because they are emotionally attached to what is on pictures or time, place they were taken.

IMO.

 

[charjohncarter]

I guess I'm an amateur, still at least once a year I take one that isn't just so-so.

 

[nikon_sam]

shut·ter·bug
/ˈSHədərˌbəɡ/
nounINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: shutterbug; plural noun: shutterbugs
an enthusiastic amateur photographer.
"vacationing shutterbugs hope for sunny days"

 

[KM-25]

I wear camera every time I am outside. And I am getting asked if I am photographer. I was published, interviewed, recognized by my name and won contest. But I am not paid for my photos. Can I answer “yes”?

I have seen photos of local studios photogs. It is kind of advanced Walmart photography. Totally not interesting, but well taken, printed.

IMHO, those who takes interesting photography and could make living from it are photographers. Those who post them on mass media and getting paid by commercials or somehow.

Those who takes corporate and weddings and paid for it are just trades.
Those who spend time to take non assigned photos and they are interesting to the level of book for sale are photographers.

And amateurs are those who takes so-so photos, which are interesting only for them, because they are emotionally attached to what is on pictures or time, place they were taken.

IMO.

You are projecting what you want to believe so I don't think anyone's reply will really matter to you.

I take interesting photos and get paid for them so I am a photographer and that is what my tax forms read.

If I take interesting photos and stop getting paid for them, I will not be able to claim the title on the tax form of "Photographer" and will no longer be able to call my self one.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Anybody who takes a photo is a photographer. Someone who lives on a desert island, unknown and unseen by anyone, anywhere, at any time, who takes photographs, is a photographer. The ability to make money or past instances of praise from some professional group or gang of barflies does not inherently add anything to one’s worth as a “photographer” or make him more deserving of the term than anybody else.
People can and will judge for themselves if any given person is any good as a picture taker, but then very few those opinions are worth anything except to the (oft times) stuffed shirt that made them.
If you have to make money at this in order to eat, God bless you, and that’s an entirely different proposition which involves finding a market and cultivating it. But there is no inherent correlation between “professional” and “photographer”.
You take one “picture” that “comes out” congrats, you’re a photographer. It’s just a word, worth nothing, but no one can take it away from you. Hardly worth anyone’s concern.
Please yourself, if someone else finds it interesting, that’s great, if not, it matters not.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

If I take interesting photos and stop getting paid for them, I will not be able to claim the title on the tax form of "Photographer" and will no longer be able to call my self one.

Sure you can🙂 you just won’t get the tax advantages. But the reality of what you do won’t have changed.

 

[David Hughes]

I thought amateurs did it because they liked it; I had amo; amas; amat* bashed into me at school. That it (Latin) came in handy after 60 years pleases me...


Regards, David




* A typical Latin verb; "amo; amas; amat" meaning I like, you like and he likes.

 

[jsrockit]

Amateur photographer and Professional photographer... one does it for love, the other for love and / or money.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Amateur photographer and Professional photographer... one does it for love, the other for love and / or money.

Maybe it's not even love. Maybe it's just "to see what it looks like photographed."

 

[chipgreenberg]

I became interested in photography in my early teens and then through high school I was a photographer. Nobody paid me

I went to college for photography and worked really hard at being e better photographer. Nobody paid me then either. Though I worked in a camera store for a bit.

I then worked carrying other photographers heavy stuff, setting up lights, loading film and getting lunch. I was still a photographer. Got paid a pittance.

After that I had people helping me carry heavy stuff, setting up lights, loading film and getting lunch and I was the photographer and got paid as such.

It's been 25 years since anybody paid me to make photographs. Now the only one my photographs have to make happy is me. And my wife. Kinda. I don't take a camera everywhere. I only take a camera when I think I'll have time to explore an interesting environment and the light might be terrific. I'm still a photographer. Has nothing to to with getting paid

 

[helen.HH]

I don'r know, the way I see it
Photography is not about Money...
A photographer takes photos... chooses to capture Images
Creates a ‘Visual’ for the viewer to interpret

If a photographer chooses to make it a career and gets paid for it, that’s icing on the cake

As for Talent... it can be found in either camp
Professional & Amateur
And that is purely Subjective
as to what one perceives as ‘Talent‘

 

[Pál_K]

Vivian Maier was a photographer whose work was unknown until after her death.

So, unpaid, unknown, she made amazing photos. She was a great photographer.

What you are doing makes you a photographer also.

 

[chipgreenberg]

Icing

Icing

Couldn't agree more Helen.

While it might have been icing to get paid to be a photographer, I personally didn't find the time or motivation for a lot of personal work I enjoy now due to the hectic schedule. Others do I know.

I don'r know, the way I see it
Photography is not about Money...
A photographer takes photos... chooses to capture Images
Creates a ‘Visual’ for the viewer to interpret

If a photographer chooses to make it a career and gets paid for it, that’s icing on the cake

As for Talent... it can be found in either camp
Professional & Amateur
And that is purely Subjective
as to what one perceives as ‘Talent‘

 

[Dogman]

I haven't been paid for my photography since 1991. I'm no longer a "professional" photographer. But I'm still a photographer. I do it almost every day.

 

[jsrockit]

Maybe it's not even love. Maybe it's just "to see what it looks like photographed."

I’d call that love of photography.

 

[css9450]

I just like the chemistry and the smell of fixer.

 

[back alley]

sounds like some folks are embarrassed by the adjective amateur.
i am a photographer...an amateur photographer...despite making some few dollars over the years shooting wedding and events...still an amateur.

 

[Mute-on]

Maybe it's not even love. Maybe it's just "to see what it looks like photographed."

Nice little Winogrand quote you slipped in there .... 🙂

I’d say that comfortably qualifies as the expression of a photographer😉

 

[brbo]

Yes, labels are very important!

 

[Brian Atherton]

Hi Ko.Fe,

For years I was a professional photographer, as I was paid to do it; it was my living and my sole income.

If labels are required... now I am retired I consider myself an amateur (and proud of it!), as I take photos for my own interest and benefit, without payment; it’s a hobby.

Photographer is as photographer does. Some get paid, some don’t.